This week, you get an extra blog posting – kind of a two for the price of one!

The Walla-Pa-Looza folks and our friends from the Johnsburg Lions will be presenting a check to the Radtke family. I am so pleased with the effort that was put forth by all the folks involved. As I had said in last week’s post, it was so great to see the people come out to support a family that needs our help. I have a feeling of pride knowing that every little bit helps – and who better to help than someone that brings such happiness to others.

I enjoy seeing the results and the impact our efforts make.

I know that Monday’s posting had a hint of sadness in it but I started to think that maybe I needed to focus on the positive in my life and not the negative. So, with that said I wanted to promote an event put together by our parade chairman Mike Betts. Mike has signed up the Walla-Pa-Looza folks to walk in the Second Annual Shamrock Salute, Rotary St. Patrick’s Day Parade in McHenry on March 14th, 2010. The parade starts at 1:00 pm. We will be in our standard issue purple gear handing out candy and doing what we do best. Our volunteers will be out in full force promoting our next event, scheduled for July 31st. I hope you and your family will come out and say hello. Mike has put some work into this parade and I am very thankful to him and all the volunteers that work so hard promoting and working for Walla-Pa-Looza.

Also, my friend Donna Grabow has set up a team for the ABTA Path to Progress walk. Look for the Just Jackson team if you would like to donate.

Again, thank you for your efforts on the Radtke benefit and I hope to give you some updated information on how much was raised and how the check presentation went. I am sure we have some pictures to share as well.

Thanks again.
Craig

This past week was an emotional roller coaster for the Wallace family. We were just getting settled down after a great benefit for my new friend Taylor Radtke when this past Thursday our next door neighbor made the decision to take his own life. He was 17 years old.

I was attending the Johnsburg Lions meat raffle at C’s Pizzeria & Pub across the street from our house, when I saw an ambulance and police cars heading into our neighborhood. Moments later, my cell phone rang and my heart skipped a beat. It was Joanne. She had concern in her voice. She told me that they brought out a stretcher next door and someone was on it. My first thought was that someone had a heart attack or something. I was wrong.

Later on that evening I was still across the street when I was told that our teenage neighbor took his own life. I decided to wait until my children were asleep so I could go home and explain the situation to my wife. I felt that discussing this that night would not be the best choice. It would be better to explain it to them in the morning. We eventually told both boys. It was pretty hard for us to explain what had happened but we made it through. We left a note for the family in their mailbox letting them know that we were sorry for their loss and that if they needed anything to please let us know.

On Saturday, I spoke with one of the siblings and asked how she was doing. She said she was ok, but that she was afraid to go into her brother’s room because she was the one that found him. I felt so sad for her but she seemed pretty strong. She had said they were working on the funeral plans and things that go along with that. I told her that if her parents needed anything to please let us know. Later that afternoon her other brother and a cousin were fixing a spaceship out in the driveway that belonged to the deceased. I guess they were paying tribute to him in there own special way. I didn’t ask why they were doing it, I knew why.

Even for those of us with children, we can only imagine what this family is going through right now. Please take a quick moment to say a prayer for them today and give your children an extra strong hug.